MANILA – Joe Devance announced on Wednesday that he is retiring from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) after 15 seasons of playing in Asia's premier play-for-pay basketball league.
In a statement over his social media accounts, the six-foot-seven forward said he had mixed feelings when he was writing his retirement announcement.
"I have mixed feelings about this post. I have spent 30 years playing basketball and the past 16 years playing professional basketball in the PBA. I have made and built so many relationships within that time that will remain in my memories for a lifetime. All the battles that I went through with all of my brothers in my career have led me to this time. I'm sad to say that now is the time to call it a career," the 40-year-old Devance said.
The first overall pick of the 2007 PBA Draft won 12 championships including the 2014 grand slam with the Magnolia franchise.
Devance will actually leave the PBA as a champion as he was part of the Barangay Ginebra team that won last season's Governors' Cup.
"I came into the PBA unsure of myself not knowing if I will be able to make it and now [I'm] leaving the PBA with 12 championships! I have said it before and I'll say it again: I am blessed!" he said.
Devance began his PBA career playing one season for the team that drafted him, Rain Or Shine, but he was quickly traded to Alaska the following year.
The trade started Devance's longtime partnership with Coach Tim Cone, and Devance has also played under Cone with Magnolia and later Ginebra.
The eight-time all-star and three-time Mythical Second Team member will retire with career averages of 10.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks a game in 610 outings.
"I gave the game of basketball my body, mind, and soul--everything I had," Devance said.
He thanked everyone who believed in him during his PBA journey from his three teams to the coaches and the fans.
Now that he is retiring, Devance said he can now devote more time to his family.
"Now is the time to focus on my kids and family... I want to thank my family for being so understanding and letting me do what I need to do to win," he said. (PNA)
